New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-31

which thoy have some aptitude, entrench them
selves behind the assertion that the world 10 to
be saved by the foolishness of preaching, and
that consequences are to be left to the Almighty
Such phrases are convenient refugees for billiards
and drones. have been q minister here for
two years. I find that in that time the town
although growing in wealth and culture, has
refrigerated morally. I cannot ignore that fact
/ owe it to nv church, to myself, and above all
10 the good cause to look it squarely In the face
It is not for me to Judge the other twenty
ministers of South Enderby lest / be judged
twenty times in return. But 1t IL for ME
to give q strict account to myself of my own
stewardship. II the light that streams from
my pulpit is darkness it cannot too soon be put
out I've made up my mind to resign
Nov, my dear Middlemas," exclaimed Baxter,
springing to his feet let me entreat you not
to do anything so ill-advised.'
at is useless to try and dissuade me- my
dear Deacon" Middemas went on with q resolute
shake of his head. II must look at my own
duty through my own eyes. I'm not going to
abandon my work, for / cannot bring myself to
believe that God did not call me to serve Him
by striving directly for the Outstanding OF tho
world. Neither have 1 decided to leave South
Enderby. What 1 do propose to do I'll let you
know shortly when get my scheme fully ma
tured."
The evening of the day on which he had this
conversation with Deacon Baxter, Matthew Mid
dlemas formally land down his pastorate. his
people were dumbfounded What added to their
amazement WIS the statement appended to MS
letter of resignation that it was not unlikely
that in another capacity he would continue 10
labor In South Enderby. The church, which
had an inlSling Of what he proposed to do ana
which really loved him. replied that it was SO
thoroughly convinced that he was doing a good
work where he that it must decline to accept
his resignation. 1t suggested that If he would
retain the passionate and take such leave OF
absence as he desired for any special work. they
would be glad to give him an assistant Their
proposal did not quite meet Mr.. Middlemas's
views, but he assented to it. That done, he
addressed courteous note to each one of his
twenty ministerial brethren of tho town inviting
them to meet at his house that day week to
consider a plan Of cooperative Christian work
on which. as he stated he greatly desired to take
their Judgment. One of the number declined
outright for reasons which seemed to him
although not to Middlemas-good and sufficient.
The rest accepted. On the night Of the confer
ence he ushcred such Of them as smoked into
his front parlor, where box OF
cigars awaited them; to the other two he gave
seats In his back parlor he himself took chair
commanding both rooms. When all had arrived
and the compliments OF the season had been
ex chanrcd Mr. Middlemas quite informally pro-
ceeded to outline for them about as he had for
Baxter his reasons for leaving his pulpit. linen
Le went on something like this;
II realize that I'm addressing the generals
in command of the South Enderby division OF
tho army Of the Lord. South Enderby is not
great strategic point; IL is not moral lid
raltar Dor a moral pass Of Thermop nor any
thing OF that important sort. And, nevertheicss'
il is no mean city, and OF course 1t behooves us
to render this division of our army as enicieht
as possible. 1t is clear, however, from the iacoS
which I have submitted relating TO the moral
condition OF the city, that forces have OF late
been overmatched by the South Enderby division
Of the army OF Satan. I'm at loss TO determine
why this should be so. 1t may be that the
great Captain for some wise but inscrutaple
purpose intended that for the present we shonid
be overmatched. On the other hand 1t may De
and this, take it, you will regard as the more
li,rcly supposition-that were not handnng our
own forces as slSilfully as we might. "hy hot'
Even the charge at Balaclava was crltciseo rs
being magnificent but not war" now as
sumino nv conjecture to be trustworthy, I've
vcntnred to invite you TO meet me 10 CONSIDER
a plan which is calculated in my humble but
we'll. settled op,nion TO render our division OF
the grand array much more efficient. The plan
looks to vitstizing the army. SO far as nom
sectarian movements concerned with the
strength that follows union. 1t is plan that
at least has the merit of simplicity. We repre-
sent between us twenty churches. South Enderby
is divided into twenty wards of about equal
size. That's a ward apiece for each church. or
these twenty wards-so the head Of our detective
force informs me-ten are to be regarded as re-
putable, five as a little off color, and live as
positively bad Now propose that each church
be held to a strict account to all the others Tor
tho moral health Of one half OF reputable
ward. oue-fourth OF an of-color ward, and one
fourth of bad ward. In that way we can
thoroughly supervise the entire city In such
manner that the burdens Of all the churches
shall be equal"
II presume know, but will you please tell
me, Brother Mddemas, precisely what you mean
by work that that has no sectarian significance,
inquired Brother Patterson.
II mean such work as temperance reform,
tenement house reform, Sunday closing reform,
sewing girls wages reform, the phase of political
reform that looks to the purity OF the ballot
box and the suppression of bribery You and l.
Brother Patterson, do not eye to eye III
regard to the efficacy OF sprinkling infants, sc
that when il comes to denominatonal work, prose-
| lyting work, we could not well cooperate. Blu,
| certainly we could hitch teams to promote the
reforms have specified. And what crying need
there is for hitching teams! Why, this town Of
ours is not nearly so we'll organized to fight The
devil as the fire department is to fight fire. lt
chief engineer said to me not long ago, with
glow Of pride in his eyes. We've got things II
such bully shape that it's cold day when We
don't put out a fire before it's made much head
way / wish our churches, which might also
be called-bcgging your pardon, Simmons CSim
mons was pastor of the I'm versalist Church,
fire department could qnench the fires o.
| Ill l,.fano Al AZ made much head ravn